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| Other Week 2 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARI at JAX | BAL at SD | CAR at ATL | CIN at GB | CLE at DEN | HOU at TEN | IND at MIA | MIN at DET |
| NE at NYJ | NO at PHI | NYG at DAL | OAK at KC | PIT at CHI | SEA at SF | STL at WAS | TB at BUF |
Week 2 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 48, Philadelphia Eagles 22
New Orleans Saints
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 25 - 34 - 311 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0 |
You would think that a team without their top running back would struggle with being one dimensional. It would add weight to that argument when the same team threw for six touchdowns in the first game of the season. Couple all of that with the pass-happy QB slated to face a team that forced seven turnovers in Week 1 and it would be easy to expect a bad day for the Saints if they decided to throw often. Well, so much for that. Brees was beyond comfy in the pocket most of the day, only getting pressured on a few occasions as the Saints' line blocked well and Brees found his wideouts or Reggie Bush in plenty of space. He was in total command all day and showed that his big day against Detroit was no fluke. It would be hard to pick a QB to start over Brees while he is playing at such a high level.
| RB Mike Bell, Rush: 17 - 86 - 1, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets) |
Mike Bell got the starting job in the backfield for the Saints in Week 2, but he looked much slower and less effective against a better defense this time. Bell finished with decent numbers, but most of that was boosted by his 23-yard run in the first quarter. He did little after first contact and gained very little on most of his touches, as the Eagles collapsed quickly around him to pin him down and back for most of the day. Only Brees' big day of throws allowed him running room enough for his few longer gains. To further depress Bell's value, he left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Expect Pierre Thomas to be strongly considered as at least sharing time if not completely replacing Bell for next week.
| RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 10 - 33 - 1, Rec: 3 - 42 - 0 (5 targets) |
Let's clear this up a little. Reggie Bush is a wide receiver pretending to be a running back. Bush had only three carries for the game, all coming in the final quarter. Bush was only given that duty because they did not want to risk Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell was out with a knee injury. The rest of Bush's production all came in the passing game as Bush snagged targets from Drew Brees either in the flat or for short yardage with some room to use his speed. Bush's value is much higher in PPR leagues as the expectation has to be either Pierre Thomas or Mike Bell to take back the rushing workload starting next week.
| RB Heath Evans, Rec: 2 - 16 - 1 (3 targets) |
Evans grabbed a short pass in the red zone and exhibited excellent body control to stay in bounds and get the ball over the goal line for a touchdown. He is mostly a blocker, however, and even then the Saints do not use a fullback in their backfield often so his fantasy value is minimal at best.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rec: 1 - -4 - 0 (1 targets) |
Pierre Thomas was active in Week 2 against the Eagles, but he hardly saw any action. He had zero touches before halftime. Thomas was coming back from injury and designated the third running back on the depth chart for the day, yielding playing time to both Mike Bell and Reggie Bush. Thomas looked healthy enough in his limited playing time after the game was out of hand, so expect him to start to move up the depth chart this week.
| WR Marques Colston, Rec: 8 - 98 - 2 (8 targets) |
Colston showcased why he is a true fantasy and NFL WR1 with his Week 2 performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. Colston grabbed everything thrown his way and seemed to be wide open in the secondary and also in the end zone on several occasions. Even when he appeared to be covered, Drew Brees threw the ball in a position where Colston could leap up and make a play, getting open even when he appeared blanketed. The Eagles looked far less prepared than last week, letting Colston have free reign throughout their defense. With Drew Brees playing so well Colston is a must start every week.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 3 - 71 - 0 (4 targets) |
Henderson started in Week 2 opposite of Marques Colston, but his targets were sliced in half of last week's totals (eight down from four). He still made the most of them, catching a beautiful pass off his shoulder with Drew Brees facing oncoming blitzers. Henderson took full advantage of the gaps in the Philadelphia coverage, sitting down in gaps and picking up good yardage in large chunks with his three grabs. With news that Lance Moore was injured in the third quarter, Henderson's value skyrockets thanks to his starting job and with Drew Brees' incredible hot streak right now where he seemingly can do no wrong.
| WR Robert Meachem, Rush: 1 - 15 - 0, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (2 targets) |
It suddenly appears that Robert Meachem is a viable option from a fantasy perspective and a contender to become the starting wide receiver for the Saints opposite of Marques Colston. Both Meachem and Devery Henderson were productive and gathered multiple targets for New Orleans, and now that word that Lance Moore was knocked out of the Philadelphia game with an injury, Meachem's value immediately goes upward. Even if he is not the starter, the third option for a hot QB who threw for over 5,000 yards last season represents huge fantasy value.
| WR Lance Moore |
We're still looking for Moore right now. He was active for the game but Marques Colston, Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson were the wideouts of note for the Saints. He is listed as the backup behind Marques Colston rather than as the starter on the other side. It is possible that he was on the field for some special teams snaps on kickoffs, but he was absent from the box score. Digging through the NFL box score, he was listed as injured in the first minute of the third quarter and out, but the broadcasters made no mention of it during the game. This is a major concern for Moore's fantasy value as he may have plummeted on the depth chart even before the injury, so his future value is seriously in question right now.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 4 - 49 - 0 (7 targets) |
Shockey started Week 2 in fine fashion, ripping through the middle of the field and collecting several short passes from Drew Brees. Oddly, the Saints stopped using him and bailed on the TE position entirely after halftime, sticking with RB and WR passes instead. Shockey is certainly the top dog at tight end for the best passing attack in the league and remains a solid upside TE most weeks.
| TE David Thomas, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (3 targets) |
Thomas stole a few targets away from Jeremy Shockey early, catching a few balls over the middle to pick up short yardage and to move the chains. Thomas' only fantasy value would be in Shockey gets injured.
Philadelphia Eagles
| QB Kevin Kolb, Pass: 31 - 51 - 391 - 2 TD / 3 INT |
Kolb did all he could to keep the Eagles in the game in Week 2 against a powerful Saints offense. Few would have believed that Kolb would have 391 yards passing and two touchdowns in his first NFL start, but the young QB looked very good against the Saints. He started strong by hitting DeSean Jackson deep for a 71 yard touchdown on the first offensive possession for Philadelphia, and then he kept the chains moving all day. Kolb relied heavily on his good friend TE Brent Celek, who led the Eagles in receptions, targets and yardage. Kolb threw an amazing 51 times and with a tipped pass and his final desperation throw both going for interceptions, his three picks thrown were forgivable. Kolb likely will start next week against Kansas City as the Eagles get Week 4 off for their bye, affording Donovan McNabb extra rest.
| QB Donovan McNabb |
McNabb missed Week 2 as expected with a broken rib. He may try to play next week against Kansas City, but odds are he takes Week 3 off as well since Philadelphia has a bye in Week 4.
| QB Michael Vick |
Vick was inactive once again due to league suspension, but he is eligible to play next week. Whether he does remains to be seen, but it is noteworthy to state that the Eagles used the Wildcat formation about 10 times in Week 2 against the Saints. No other NFL player seems better equipped to run the Wildcat than Vick, so expect a package set up for him next week for several downs.
| RB Brian Westbrook, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 13 - 52 - 0, Rec: 3 - 14 - 0 (5 targets) |
Westbrook was not that effective as either a rusher or a receiver in Week 2 against the Saints as New Orleans focused on keeping him in check and forcing Kevin Kolb to try and beat them. Westbrook had 16 touches on the day but only one topped 10 yards, which came on a direct snap. The Eagles used a Wildcat look about 10 times, including lining Westbrook behind center in a shotgun look -- one of which led to his longest run of the day (16 yards). He also attempted a short pass to FB Leonard Weaver near the goal line, and if it had been a better throw he would likely have added a TD pass to his stat totals. The concern is that Westbrook had an ankle injury late and was shown barefoot and on a table late in the game. The Eagles are off in Week 4 so Westbrook might be advised to take next week off.
| RB LeSean McCoy, Rush: 5 - 18 - 0, Rec: 4 - 37 - 0 (5 targets) |
McCoy got most of his work in Week 2 near the end of the game as he again came in as a reliever for Brian Westbrook. Westbrook was shown with his shoe off and on the table with apparent ankle issues, so McCoy could see more work in Week 3 because the Eagles have Week 4 off, so pay close attention to Westbrook's health this week. McCoy looked solid as Westbrook's stand in, catching a few balls out of the backfield and while he was not Brian Westbrook 2.0, he was more than adequate and can certainly take a spot start.
| WR Jason Avant, Rec: 7 - 79 - 1 (8 targets) |
Avant had seven grabs to lead all Philadelphia wideouts in Week 2 against the Saints, but most of that effort came later in the game with the Eagles resting DeSean Jackson. Avant is a nice possession wide receiver and goes over the middle well, willing to take a big hit to move the chains, but his fantasy upside is limited with Jackson, Kevin Curtis and Brent Celek above him in the passing food chain for Philadelphia.
| WR DeSean Jackson, Rush: 3 - 15 - 0, Rec: 4 - 101 - 1 (9 targets) |
Jackson blew the doors off of the Saints' secondary on the Eagles' first possession, getting wide open over the middle of the field deep and catching a perfect strike from Kevin Kolb in stride for a 71-yard touchdown. His production quickly diminished as New Orleans tried to keep him in check, but the Eagles still got the ball in his hands from multiple Wildcat formations and plays that often employed Jackson as the recipient of the direct snap. Jackson had three carries out of the formation and was also used in end arounds, flips back to Kolb and also handoffs to Westbrook. Jackson aggravated his groin injury, so keep track of his status this week if you own him.
| WR Kevin Curtis, Rec: 3 - 44 - 0 (9 targets) |
Curtis looked gimpy in Week 2, struggling to make cuts and turn upfield on a knee that is less than full strength. Unless the ball hit him in space, Curtis could not go and get separation and make a play on the ball, which cost Kevin Kolb several completions. Curtis has one more game before the bye comes in Week 4, so the Eagles may have to evaluate the game tape and give Curtis extra rest as he is not the explosive and speedy wideout that he is when he is healthy.
| WR Jeremy Maclin, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (3 targets) |
Maclin hardly contributed to the Philadelphia effort in Week 2, but his upside is if and when Kevin Curtis finally admits that he is not at full strength and he gets a shot to step in for Curtis. Until then, Maclin is behind Curtis, DeSean Jackson and even Jason Avant and has little or no fantasy value.
| TE Brent Celek, Rec: 8 - 104 - 0 (11 targets) |
Celek had a great day in Week 2 as Kevin Kolb looked for his good friend and roommate often. Celek moved the chains with regularity with several grabs over the middle and towards the sideline as it often took two or three Saints to get him to the ground. His 104 yards, eight catches and 11 targets led all Eagles in Week 2 in each category as Celek was a nice big target for Kolb in his first NFL start. His stock should continue to rise as long as he sees this type of workload and continues to produce in the Philadelphia version of the West Coast Offense which loves to rely on a strong TE if one is available.